Registrations of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) rose by 46.7% in May to take a record market share of 4.4%.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), more than 8,000 were registered in the month, bringing the total number of new AFVs to have joined Britain’s roads so far this year up to almost 50,000.

From May 2016 to the same month this year, pure electric registrations increased from 517 to 926, a 79.1% uplift.

Other electric registrations rose 18.7% to 2,191 over the same period.

Petrol hybrids increased 61.1% to 5,061 but diesel hybrids became less popular, with registrations falling from 125 to 80.

These figures contrast with overall car registrations, which fell to 186, a decrease of 8.5%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “We expected demand in the new car market to remain negative in May due to the pull-forward to March – which was an all-time record month – resulting from VED reform.

“Added to this, the general election was always likely to give many pause for thought and affect purchasing patterns in the short term.”

The EU’s vans got 2.7% greener in 2016.